Certainly the tiniest of tiny infants, the premature baby, can use all the help a caring parent can give. And, anecdotal reports and research suggest that reflexology may provide such aid.
They called her the "poop" nurse, a title she proudly wore. We met her some twenty years ago, a nurse with an interest in reflexology. She worked at a Lubbock, Texas hospital and whenever there was a new born who had failed to defecate for the first time in a timely manner (as needed for hospital release), she'd get the call to come to the nursery from her ward. She'd apply a little reflexology and "get them to do what I want" as she put it.
Research shows a role for reflexology with even smaller infants, the premature baby while a recent Daily Mail (England) article shows the impact of a simple touch to the foot.
A Chinese study demonstrates that reflexology helps with problems experienced by the premature baby. Premature infants with a 32 to 36 weeks gestational age were randomly divided into treatment group of 35 and a control group of 34. A significant difference was found in sleep, sleep duration, weight gain compared to the control group whose tiny members received standard care. (Yuqi, Shao-ying, Ms Aw gold, "Touch with reflexology massage on the area of weight premature infants," Z hejiang Chinese magazine 2006 02)
The Daily Mail article of August 4, 2008 was titled "Premature Baby Survived Because Mother Tickled Her Feet." Tiny Emma Young was one pound, 3 ounces at birth with an under-developed heart that required surgery. The first time her breathing stopped nurses sprang into action, tickling her postage-stamp-sized feet. "Nurses and Emma's mother Angela Young were amazed to discover that by tickling the soles of the baby's feet jump-started her body and got tiny Emma breathing again." Emma Young's mother sat by her side tickling her feet literally dozens of times a day for 8 weeks. Emma overcame the problem at 15 weeks.
"Recently Emma celebrated her first birthday. At her age she has a normal weight and height ... 'My daughter is alive thanks to her feet being tickled. It really is a miracle that she is still with us,' said Mrs. Young ... 'Now she has a great sense of humor - which must have been all the tickling we did to keep her alive. We still tickle her feet now, but it's just to make her laugh, and there's no better sound in the world for us than her giggling.'"
Emma is not alone as a premature infant with breathing problems. According to the Web site www.kidshealth.org, "Apnea is another common health problem among premature babies. During an apnea spell, a baby stops breathing, the heart rate may decrease, and the skin may turn pale, purplish, or blue. Apnea is usually caused by immaturity in the area of the brain that controls the drive to breathe. Almost all babies born at 30 weeks or less will experience apnea. Apnea spells become less frequent with age. ... "In the NICU (Newborn Intensive Care Unit), all premature babies are monitored for apnea spells. Treating apnea can be as simple as gently stimulating the infant to restart breathing." And, we think, the tickle of the feet is exactly what Emma's mother did to help her tiny one restart breathing. While reflexology is a more formal stimulation of the feet, quite frankly, with the small foot of a baby formality is out the door and casual touch (or tickle) is in.
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